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First unemployment claims jump in March

Special to the Courier

POSTED:May 3, 2008 5:00 a.m.

ATLANTA -- The Georgia Department of Labor announced last week that 42,550 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits in March, up 3.9 percent from February.Most of the increase in claims came in manufacturing industries, according to the department.Initial claims, considered to be a barometer of economic activity because they measure newly unemployed workers, rose by 36.3 percent over the year, up from 31,225 in March of 2007. Also, the total number of individuals receiving unemployment insurance benefits is up 35.6 percent over the year, from 54,798 in March of 2007 to 74,294 in March of 2008. The 14 metro areas of the state and the changes in their initial claims from February to March are as follows: - Albany, up 141, or 28.3 percent, from 499 to 640. - Athens, up 78, or 14 percent, from 556 to 634. - Atlanta, up 51, or three-tenths of one percent, from 17,351 to 17,402.- Augusta, up 96, or nine percent, from 1,068 to 1,164.- Brunswick, down 17, or 5.1 percent, from 336 to 319.- Columbus, down 76, or 11.1 percent, from 684 to 608.- Dalton, up 154, or 7.2 percent, from 2,141 to 2,295. - Gainesville, down 526, or 47.3 percent, from 1,111 to 585. - Hinesville, up one, or seven-tenths of one percent, from 141 to 142. - Macon, down 82, or 8.6 percent, from 952 to 870. - Rome, up 74, or 9.7 percent, from 765 to 839. - Savannah, down 121, or 12 percent, from 1,010 to 889. - Valdosta, up 123, or 19 percent, from 646 to 769. - Warner Robins, down seven, or 2.1 percent, from 328 to 321. Georgia labor market data are not seasonally adjusted and are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.